Article

The More Things Change

After a decade of publishing for the SAP market, I’m struck by how this particular issue of SAP NetWeaver Magazine reflects the recent state of SAP technology.

After all, when we published the magazine’s first issue, SAP NetWeaver was still fledgling technology. Now, it is so well established that some SAP customers are already — after what seems to be just a few short years — able to look back at their initial SAP NetWeaver implementations, lessons learned, and the implications for their business today.

Take a look at our story on SMART Modular Technologies, an early adopter of SAP NetWeaver back in 2004. The SMART team remembers clearly the SAPPHIRE announcement launching SAP NetWeaver (and if you were there, you remember it, too!), the ensuing excitement in their organization, and their decision to take the leap as a ramp-up customer.

In 2009, post-acquisition of Business Objects, you’ll find that ramp-up projects are now focused heavily on reporting, BI, and enterprise performance. In this issue, Sara Lee, a ubiquitous presence at supermarkets here in the US, shares its experience testing SAP BusinessObjects Explorer. This new application promises to change SAP reporting, with fast, intuitive, visual, Web-like search capabilities that pull from various sources. It is self-service BI reporting that everyone — from executives to brand managers to supply chain experts — can quickly put to use.

These two stories touch on where SAP solutions are today, a perspective you’ll find well represented in coming issues. In fact, in 2010, you’ll see a redesigned magazine, a new Web site, and a new name for SAP NetWeaver Magazine: InsiderPROFILES. This name reflects the magazine’s broader charter, with coverage of leading companies and their strategic use of SAP enterprise solutions, the SAP BusinessObjects portfolio, and SAP NetWeaver technology.

We look forward to introducing you to InsiderPROFILES, as we continue to present profiles of innovative customers from around the world and share insights from vendors and thought leaders to help you meet your business demands.

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